Criminal Justice Bachelors Degree
Getting a criminal justice bachelor’s degree online can be a great option for those who want to pursue a career in criminal justice but who cannot attend a full-time classroom program due to time constraints or geographic location. Fortunately, online universities have made it easier for the average person to start working towards a four-year degree.
Criminal Justice Bachelors Employment
Those graduating with a bachelor’s in criminal justice should have excellent job prospects. Between 2016, jobs in the justice field are projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics increase at the rate of about 11 percent. With this amount of growth, finding a job should be easy as long as you graduate from a strong criminal justice online program and have good grades. The entry pay rate for a person with a BS in Criminal Justice is about $48,000 if you opt to become a police officer or around $35,000 per year if you opt to work in corrections.
Many students find that a criminal justice Bachelor’s degree online is also great preparation for entering law school. Perspective law students who opt for a criminal justice bachelor’s degree can sharpen their skills before taking the LSAT exam and gain exposure to information about the law enforcement side of the social problems. This degree is also great preparation for those that hope to continue their education with the ultimate goal of becoming a social worker.
Common Criminal Justice Bachelors Degree Requirements
Upon beginning your program, you will be expected to chart out the classes you plan to take over the next 4 years. Generally, to get a bachelor’s in criminal justice online or in a classroom, you will be expected to complete 120 credit hours for your degree. Approximately 30 percent of the credit hours required for your degree are in core classes. The basic principles of the fields of criminal justice and the court system are covered in the first two years. Another 30 percent will be devoted to general education classes and the remaining 40 percent are to be used for elective credits in the fields of criminology, criminal justice and corrections.
Most Bachelor’s degrees require you to select a specialty. A good portion of your elective credits can be taken in courses that place a greater emphasis on this specialty area. Specialty areas include homeland security, immigration, customs and forensics. Some of these specialties are concerned with social issues such as illegal immigration. Utilizing existing technological detection, tracking and locating techniques, enforcement personnel are only able to follow less than 10 percent of the aliens that desire to make the US their home.
Criminal Justice Bachelors Degree Online
The ability to obtain a criminal justice Bachelor’s degree online, brings into reach something that many would otherwise not have the opportunity to pursue. This method of obtaining a college degree is adaptable and flexible enough to allow its use virtually anywhere in the world.
To obtain your bachelor’s degree in criminal justice online, you need a computer, an Internet provider and admission to the school of your choice. The number of classes available online is abundant, in many cases allowing a more thorough educational program than a traditional classroom setting.
Obtaining a criminal justice Bachelor’s degree online is not the most traditional way to attend college but it is becoming a viable option for a large segment of the population. It can also open up doors to a wealth of career opportunities.
